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IRB Stories

Stories from the RBI feature the people at the heart of science — reported portraits and features on the researchers, students and teams driving discovery. Clear, brisk and inspiring, from Zagreb to the world.

Ants under stress, what they reveal about pollution and global warming

Feb 18th 2026

When a young researcher in Croatia tells someone she studies ants, the reaction is almost always the same, surprise. But as soon as the conversation moves into the details, that surprise quickly turns into interest, because few people truly know the world of ants. That is why, throughout the year, she tries to set aside time for science outreach as well, and she is especially delighted by the moment when girls remain fascinated by the fact that in an ant colony it is the females who “carry” all the work, from searching for food to keeping the nest clean.

Fusion as the energy of the future, Croatia’s contribution at the heart of a European project

Feb 18th 2026

When Dr. sc. Kristina Tomić Luketić, a scientist at the Department of Experimental Physics of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, tells someone she works on fusion, the reaction is almost always the same, great interest and a string of follow up questions. Most people have heard of fusion as the energy of the future, but few know how important Croatia and, specifically, the RBI are in this story.

In the dark matter of the genome, where DNA repeats preserve stability and drive change

Feb 13th 2026

When Eva Šatović Vukšić tells someone what she does, the reaction is almost always the same, surprise, then curiosity, and a desire to hear more about work in the lab. Eva studies what for a long time remained in the shadows, repetitive, repeating DNA sequences from the so called “dark matter of the genome,” which are important for the structure, function, and integrity of genetic material.

While most people focus on strengthening immunity, Dr. sc. Sonja Marinović wants to understand it

Feb 12th 2026

In reality, the immune system is a sophisticated network of decisions, signals, and balances. Its task is to protect us from infections, but also to recognize when something in the body goes wrong and cells begin to behave like tumor cells. Sometimes, just as importantly, the immune system can make mistakes, it can turn against our own tissue or overreact, creating allergies and autoimmune diseases.

From the laboratory to the tram, antimicrobial (nano)coatings for safer touch

Feb 11th 2026

Every day, automatically, we touch different surfaces, from handholds in trams and buses, elevator door buttons, and stair railings, to door handles and switches in hospitals and nursing homes. Large numbers of people touch these surfaces daily, leaving on them microorganisms that have accumulated on their hands. And so, in this everyday automatic routine lies one of the important routes of infection transmission, via frequently touched surfaces.

What Is the “Dark Matter of the Genome”? Scientists Explain It, Children Review It

Feb 5th 2026

Frontiers for Young Minds is a unique journal because scientific papers are reviewed by children and young people, with mentoring from scientists. In this journal, Dr Eva Šatović-Vukšić and Dr Miroslav Plohl published an article about satellite DNA, a part of the genome that was long considered useless, but we now know it affects everything, from maintaining cell integrity to behavior.

How Soil Microorganisms Can Help Plants Cope Better with Climate Change

Jan 19th 2026

Scientists at the Ruđer Bošković Institute have launched the CLIMAGRIT project to investigate how “beneficial” soil bacteria can boost plants’ resilience to climate change.

Nanotechnology in the service of health, how RBI scientists are developing the future tools of biology and medicine

Jul 16th 2025

When you think of theoretical physics, you probably picture large boards covered in formulas and abstract equations describing black holes or quantum particles, something that happens somewhere far away, understandable only to a handful of experts.

Meet Matea Raić, a Young Scientist Developing the Batteries of the Future for a More Sustainable World

Jun 3rd 2025

In a world where energy efficiency is no longer a luxury but a necessity, the Materials Physics Department at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) is in pursuit of a solution that could transform how we store and use energy. Among those leading this quest is Dr Matea Raić, whose research balances nanometre-scale structures with global challenges.

Molecules Shaping the Future: Marina Šekutor and the Science with Diamond Potential

May 13th 2025

Croatian Physics Students Make History at the International Physicists’ Tournament

May 7th 2025

Meet Sonja Marinović: The Scientist Shining a Light on the Secrets of the Liver

Apr 9th 2025

In today’s fast-paced world of takeaways and desk jobs, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a silent epidemic.